A person takes at least one aspirin a day for 30 days. If he takes 45 aspirin altogether, in some sequence of consecutive days he takes exactly 14 aspirin.

Solution


|Contact| |Front page| |Contents| |Up| |Store|

Copyright © 1996-2012 Alexander Bogomolny

A person takes at least one aspirin a day for 30 days. If he takes 45 aspirin altogether, in some sequence of consecutive days he takes exactly 14 aspirin.

Let ai be the total number of aspirin consumed up to and including the ith day, for i = 1, ..., 30. Combine these with the numbers a1 + 14, ..., a30 + 14, providing 60 numbers, all positive and less or equal 45 + 14 = 59. Hence two of these 60 numbers are identical. Since all ai's and, hence, (ai + 14)'s are distinct (at least one aspirin a day consumed), then aj = ai + 14, for some i<j. Thus, on days i + 1 to j, the person consumes exactly 14 aspirin.

In [Engel, p. 60] we find the following variant: A chessmaster has 77 days to prepare for a tournament. He wants to play at least one game per day, but no more than 132 games. Prove that there is a sequence of successive days on which he plays exactly 21 games.

References

  1. A. Engel, Problem-Solving Strategies, Springer Verlag, 1998

Related material
Read more...

  • Sum of Integers
  • More than half of the integers from {1, 2, ..., 2n}
  • Consequences of Getting More Than a Half
  • Remainder Multiples of 1997
  • Intersecting Subsets
  • Women in a theatre: Pigeonhole Principle
  • Pigeonhole Among Friends
  • Not Exceeding 24

  • |Contact| |Front page| |Contents| |Up| |Store|

    Copyright © 1996-2012 Alexander Bogomolny

     40615482

    A math books store at a unique math study site. Shopping at the store helps maintain the site. Thank you.
    Sites for teachers
    Sites for parents
    Terms of use
    Awards
    Interactive Activities

    CTK Exchange
    CTK Wiki Math
    CTK Insights - a blog
    Math Help
    Games & Puzzles
    What Is What
    Arithmetic
    Algebra
    Geometry
    Probability
    Outline Mathematics
    Make an Identity
    Book Reviews
    Stories for Young
    Eye Opener
    Analog Gadgets
    Inventor's Paradox
    Did you know?...
    Proofs
    Math as Language
    Things Impossible
    Visual Illusions
    My Logo
    Math Poll
    Cut The Knot!
    MSET99 Talk
    Old and nice bookstore
    Other Math sites
    Front Page
    Movie shortcuts
    Personal info
    Privacy Policy

    Guest book
    News sites

    Recommend this site

    Sites for parents

    Education & Parenting

    Search:
    Keywords:

    Google
    Web CTK
    Supported by
    3wVentures